Latest news with #ExpressOnline
Daily Mirror
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Foundation stars admit they had to 'up their game' for cast of season 3
Foundation season 3 is currently airing on Apple TV+ and sees the arrival of a new character played by Cherry Jones Terrence Mann, star of the Apple TV+ series Foundation, has dropped some exciting hints about working with new guest star Cherry Jones, known for her role as Nan Pierce in HBO's Succession. Jones joins the cast as Ambassador Quent in the third season of the sci-fi epic, which is based on Isaac Asimov's legendary novels and set tens of thousands of years into the future under the rule of Emperor Cleon. The Empire is managed by a trio of clones at different ages: Brother Dawn (played by Cassian Bilton), Brother Day (Lee Pace), and Brother Dusk (Mann), with the upcoming season seeing Day distancing himself from his counterparts, leaving diplomatic responsibilities to Dawn and Dusk. Their interactions with Quent are crucial, especially as she represents Hari Seldon's (Jared Harris) Foundation. Speaking to Express Online, Mann expressed his delight at reuniting with Jones, saying, "I've known Cherry for years," and recalling their excitement upon learning they'd be working together: "When I knew she was coming on board we were just excited, we called one another and went 'Oh my God, you're gonna be there!'", reports the Express. "Every time we've talked about her, she's the most authentic, brilliant actress of our age. "There's not a bit of artifice on her as a performer or as a person. She's the dearest person you'll ever be with, she gives 100 percent of herself when you're working with her. "And what a joy, she gets to be my love interest in this season!" Season three of Foundation presents a formidable challenge for the three Cleons as nearly the entire supporting cast has been replaced. While Harris is reprising his role as Hari, along with his protégée Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell) and the clones' robot advisor Demerzel (Laura Birn), the third season introduces several new characters, most notably the mysterious warmonger known as the Mule (Pilou Asbæk). Foundation also welcomes Alexander Siddig, Troy Kotsur, Synnøve Karlsen, Cody Fern and Brandon P. Bell to its ranks. Mann's co-star Bilton chimed in: "To be honest with you, when we saw this new cast list we all turned each other and were like, 'We've got to up our game'. "Because you've got some real heavy-hitters coming in this season. I mean, Cherry Jones, who's like a Broadway icon and we all know her from Succession. "I remember she was nominated for an Emmy when we were all on set with her. And Pilou Asbæk, who I adored in Game of Thrones, is now playing the Mule this season. "Cody Fern, who's been brilliant in the Ryan Murphy universe, Synnøve Karlsen who, to my mind, is one of the great young British actresses. And a tonne of other new talent. "All of those performances bring an authenticity but also a new edge and a new vitality and urgency to the show. I certainly felt [a tonal shift] because it was something I felt reading the scripts." The actor said, "It is work but I'm also a fan and I watched this show and I binged it, it is so addictive, particularly this season because the tone has shifted to be much darker, much more urgent. Ultimately it has a sense of danger to it." Regardless of whether you're a returning viewer or new to the series, Foundation's third season is a must-watch for fans of science fiction.
Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
‘Majestic' sci-fi epic is finally back for season 3
One of the best science fiction dramas of the past decade has finally returned with its best season yet Apple TV+'s gripping science fiction epic is finally back for its third season and it's more timely than ever before. Based on the iconic works of Isaac Asimov, Foundation is a sprawling saga set 10s of thousands of years into the future, when the galaxy is ruled by a lineage of clones based on the original Emperor Cleon, portrayed by Lee Pace, Cassian Bilton and Terrence Mann, known as Brother Dawn, Day and Dusk. When ingenious mathematician Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) formulates psychohistory, a scientific method of predicting the future, he foresees the Empire's downfall which will lead to a dark age lasting eons. He subsequently recruits fellow maths genius Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell), who helps him create Foundation, an interstellar alliance working to preserve human knowledge. This season sees their coalition face their greatest threat, a Mentalic known as the Mule (Pilou Asbæk), an unpredictable warlord with the ability to bend people to his will. More than ever before, season three of Foundation is a poignant example of how sci-fi stories set millennia into the future can still resonate deeply with the issues we're facing today. Take it from the cast themselves, including Brother Dusk star Mann who told Express Online and other press: 'What happens in Foundation, for all three seasons, mirrors exactly what's happening in the world in any given country, or continent, or city, or home, or family, or town. 'That part of humanity doesn't change, the dysfunctionality of families, they're there and we love them and that kind of storytelling has been here as long as the written word.' And his co-star Bilton, who portrays Brother Dawn, added: 'I think the show this season, more than other seasons, has a very confronting relevance to the world we're living in right now. 'What we explore this season is the idea that power ultimately shouldn't be held by one individual for too long. 'There are elements of the Cleons' rule that are borderline fascistic, they are essentially autocrats. They're, for all intents and purposes, not democratically elected. They're clinging to power, even though that wouldn't be the right thing for them or anyone else. 'You see across the entire Foundation universe the implications of that, and none of it's good. It really is war.' While Foundation has always struck a chord both with human history and contemporary life, the Mule introduces brand new themes that will feel eerily timely to today's online landscape. 'You have that on one side and also another thing that strikes me as relevant is the Mentalic element of this season,' Bilton continued. 'Of course it is a science-fiction idea but, I think with the rise of social media and its influence on the way in which we carry out our daily lives and the choices that we make being informed by the time we spend on our phones has echoes in what the Mule is able to do. 'It's not so much that he has a very strong army of people with weapons, but he can get in the minds of people. What you're seeing now, both with the rise of AI and the proliferation of social media globally, is people have a shortcut into your attention and your mind. 'Capitalism has taken over every single land mass in the world and now the thing it's coming for is the real estate of your mind. 'That's echoed in the Mule so I do think there's a striking relevance this season to the world we're living in.' Reviews from fans have called the show 'magnificent and majestic' and a 'groundbreaking adaptation' of Asimov's original novels, so make sure you find time for this stunning sci-fi series soon.
Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Adolescence fans must watch 'stunning' thriller inspired by toxic masculinity
Nicolas Cage's latest movie, The Surfer, may be a far cry from the hit Netflix drama Adolescence, but the two projects have more in common than you might think Netflix's popular series Adolescence has been a hot topic since its premiere in March this year. The show features Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller, a father whose life falls apart when his 13-year-old son Jamie (portrayed by Owen Cooper) is arrested for the murder of a female classmate. The four-part drama received acclaim for its unflinching exploration of tough issues such as the harmful impact of social media and the increasing incidents of violent misogyny among teenage boys. For those viewers who were deeply moved by Adolescence and are interested in further exploring how toxic masculinity can manifest in older men, they should check out the latest thriller starring Nicolas Cage, The Surfer. While at first glance this surreal journey into desperation featuring Cage's unnamed protagonist returning to his Australian hometown and clashing with locals seems like a very different project, it delves into the same themes as the Netflix hit by examining male tribalism, reports the Express. Cage's character, who aims to repurchase his childhood home and surf the beach with his son (played by Finn Little), immediately finds himself at odds with a group of cult-like surfers led by the charismatic Scally (Julian McMahon), who presents himself as a sort of male wellness guru. In an interview with Express Online, director Lorcan Finnegan shared the origins of his film's distinctive villain, drawing influence from the likes of outspoken 'manosphere' figure Andrew Tate, who is mentioned in Adolescence. "He's an amalgamation of a lot of people like that," Finnegan remarked. "Probably not as bad as Andrew Tate. "He's got a bit of Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson. There's another guy called Tim Morrison, who's a little bit more on the shaman side. "There are a lot of these people who are self-help gurus that work in the corporate world and they bring people in on these retreats where they teach them how to get in touch with their inner-selves and masculinity. "And then they go back to their jobs and fire 300 people, or something. So there's this contrast between this spiritualism and corporate-capitalist mindset." While The Surfer doesn't focus heavily on violence against women, it delves into the toxic dynamics among men who sideline those they categorise as 'outsiders'. Cage's role sees him fall prey to this spiteful behaviour as the male group's bullying begins to erode his very sense of self. "[Scally] was slightly based on those people, but Julian also made the character his own," continued Finnegan. "He had ideas about his haircut and ways of speaking to these guys and having this kind of call and response. "So, he plays the character very well where it's slightly less black and white than a kind of Andrew Tate, who's obviously a misogynist. Whereas Julian played him as someone... you might think he is trying to help Nic. "From his point of view he was, from his character's point of view he was trying to help him understand his ideology, even though it was quite dark. He's more ambiguous as to whether he's a good guy or a bad guy." The film is currently exclusive to cinemas, so seize the chance to watch this captivating companion piece to what's been Netflix's roaring success of 2025. The Surfer is in cinemas now. Adolescence is available to stream on Netflix.
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Nicolas Cage's 'meme-worthy' moment in new movie was inspired by classic film
Nicolas Cage stars in Lorcan Finnegan's new thriller The Surfer, which sees the Hollywood icon spiral into madness In his latest outing, The Surfer, directed by Lorcan Finnegan, Nicolas Cage revisits the offbeat, manic energy he's renowned for, plunging into a sun-drenched abyss of insanity. Cage plays a nameless surfer who travels back to his hometown in Australia with the intention of repurchasing his childhood residence. However, his plans are foiled when he and his son (played by Finn Little) are met with aggression by a clique of hostile locals at the beach, spearheaded by the captivating yet confrontational Scally (Julian McMahon). This unwarranted hostility relentlessly chips away at Cage's character's sanity. As the surfer's mental state continues to deteriorate, his desperation reaches new depths when he resorts to scavenging for food and entertains the notion of feasting on the dead body of a rat he had encountered before. Director Lorcan Finnegan shared an insider's perspective with Express Online, recalling the details of the scene: "We had two rats, one that had a mechanical part to bite him and another one that was soft for whacking against the card", reports the Express. "So he threw that away and he's supposed to find it the next day and think about taking a bit out of it. He picked it up and that's as far as it was in the script." Cage's penchant for injecting a bit of the unconventional into his characters ensures that each portrayal is nothing less than fascinating. Movie buffs and Cage aficionados, prepare for a scene set to join the ranks of the iconic 'Not the bees!' moment from The Wicker Man. In this moment, the surfer pockets a rat, turning it into an impromptu tool against Pitbull (Alexander Bertrand), one of Scally's henchmen. Director Finnegan revealed: "But then Nic put it in his pocket and he wasn't really sure why yet, but he was kind of formulating an idea. "The art department wanted the rat back, they were like, 'We need to keep that, we only have one', and he's like, 'No, no, I need to keep it in my pocket'." As it turns out, the wacky fight sequence was a brainchild of Cage himself, taking inspiration from a film icon in a classic flick from the '50s. Finnegan continued, explaining Cage's inspiration: "Then, I think it was the next day, he was telling me he had this idea that's related to Sabrina, the Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart movie. "There's a scene where Humphrey Bogart takes an olive out the jar and puts it into another guy's mouth and says 'Eat it!' "He'd rewatched that film just before coming to Australia and thought it was just hilarious, so he had this weird connection and wanted to take the rat and shove it into Pitbull's mouth during the fight and say 'Eat it!' So that was another bit of Cage magic. "I think there are little lines he'll give the film if he loves the process of it because he feels like it needs a little bit of something." Film enthusiasts can celebrate as Sabrina is now available for streaming on both NOW and Paramount+, offering an opportunity to delve into the roots of Nicolas Cage's most recent bout of inspired madness.
Daily Record
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Yellowstone's child star is almost unrecognisable in new thriller alongside A-lister
Finn Little, who played Carter in the hit Western drama, has taken on a new role in the thriller The Surfer Yellowstone enthusiasts are encouraged to dive into a new thriller featuring one of the series' most prominent emerging talents. Finn Little, 18, has made a name for himself playing the young ranch hand Carter in the acclaimed Western series, alongside stars like Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser, and Kevin Costner. Having appeared in 24 episodes to date, Carter is seen honing his skills under the tutelage of Reilly's formidable Beth Dutton and her spouse Rip Wheeler (played by Hauser), while also picking up some crucial life lessons. Now stepping into his late teens, Little has matured significantly for his latest cinematic venture in The Surfer, sharing the screen with none other than Nicolas Cage. Not only does he appear more grown-up compared to his earlier Yellowstone days, but Little also surprises by using his authentic Brisbane accent in this Australian-based movie, which might take some fans by surprise, reports the Mirror US. In the suspenseful flick directed by Lorcan Finnegan, Little takes on the role of 'The Kid', a character who is the son of Cage's unnamed protagonist and finds himself menaced by a gang of local surfers. Despite the daunting task of acting alongside the esteemed Nic Cage, it turns out Little was somewhat oblivious to Cage's celebrity status. "He was gloriously not aware of Nic Cage being a big actor," revealed Finnegan in an interview with Express Online. "We had a casting director from Australia, Jane Norris, and she suggested him. All the cast are Australian, apart from Nic. We had a lot of actors to get for the film, locally, and she was great at putting people forward. "Finn auditioned, he did a self-tape and then we did a Zoom. "It's tricky because when you're trying to find someone who could possibly look like Nic's son, as well, and be Australian, we were still toying with the idea of whether he would have an Australian accent or an American accent. "We decided to keep his Australian accent, but he does a good American accent, obviously." Director Finnegan shared an anecdote about Little's nonchalant reaction to working with Cage. "I remember, he arrived in Australia quite early, before Nic got there," he said. During a walk to a beach location, Finnegan gauged Little's thoughts on acting alongside Cage. "We were walking along, down to the beach to show him the location. I asked him how he felt about making a movie with Nic Cage and he was like, 'Yeah... yeah, I've heard of him. Yeah, pretty cool'. Just not fazed." While Little's future projects post-Yellowstone remain unconfirmed, there's buzz that he might reprise his role in the franchise's upcoming spin-off featuring Beth and Rip.
